Fire Reported Aboard Grandeur of the Seas – Updates

5:30 pm: Grandeur of the Seas guests are currently in the process of being transported to the Port of Baltimore. The first of many coaches have arrived at the port, as well as the first of a few planes at Baltimore–Washington International Airport.

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May 27, 2013

8:45 pm: Royal Caribbean has cancelled the May 31st sailing of Grandeur of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland. Guests booked on the May 31 sailing will be provided a full refund of the cruise fare paid for their sailing. Royal Caribbean also will provide these guests with the opportunity to sail in the future by providing a future cruise certificate for 50 percent of the cruise fare paid for the May 31, 2013, Grandeur of the Seas sailing.

Guests who booked air transportation through Royal Caribbean International will receive a full refund for air costs. If they did not purchase air transportation through Royal Caribbean International, the cruise line will pay for their airline change fees.

4:55 pm: Royal Caribbean has decided to cancel the current sailing and is currently arranging air transportation for all guests to return home tomorrow. All guests will be refunded the full amount they have paid and will receive a future cruise credit. Royal Caribbean has stated that a decision on future sailings will be made soon.

1:45 pm: New photo from an unidentified source shows extensive damage to the aft of Grandeur of the Seas. (photo top right)

12:00 pm: Grandeur of the Seas will remain in Freeport through the night. Guests are free to stay aboard or enjoy the day in Freeport. Guests who are staying in affected staterooms aboard the ship will be provided hotel accommodations for the night in Freeport. Adam Goldstein, President & CEO, along with other executives, are currently en-route to meet guests in Freeport.

10:55 am: Photo of the damage (bottom right) aboard Grandeur of the Seas. Courtesy of Royal Caribbean.

10:15 am: The Grandeur of the Seas has arrived in Freeport, Bahamas. Royal Caribbean will begin assessing the damage aided by local authorities.

9:00 am: Around 4 am this morning, a fire was reported to have broken out on deck 3 of Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas, as she was making her way to her next port of call – CoCo Cay, Bahamas.

The fire was reported to a nearby United States Coast Guard station and was deemed a class A fire, which is used for identification of a fire that involves combustible material. The fire was reported to be located on the aft mooring deck on deck 3, a crew only area. According to Royal Caribbean, the fire was quickly extinguished and passengers were required to assemble at their muster stations.

According to one report, the nearby Carnival Sensation was put on standby mode by the US Coast Guard, to assist in an evacuation if it were deemed necessary.

Royal Caribbean reported that no passengers or crew were injured as a result of the fire and that the ship is operating under full power and propulsion. The ship is now sailing towards Freeport, Bahamas, where she will undergo further evaluation by local and US authorities.

The Grandeur of the Seas is currently sailing on a seven night cruise that departed Baltimore, Maryland, on May 24.

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Mike Faust is an avid world traveler, often found traversing city streets in Asia and Europe rather than his home city of Boca Raton. Mike has touched down in 39 countries, set sail on 35 cruises, and flown over 400,000 lifetime miles.